The average Jacksonville Jaguar game cost taxpayers 57,000 dollars to have uniformed police officers patrol EverBank Field in 2009.
Depending upon the number of fans in attendance, there are up to 100 police officers available for each game. Last season, the officers arrested 16 individuals and threw out more than 120 rambunctious fans.
Sheriff’s Office Special Events Chief David Stevens said that the officers value shouldn’t be measured soley by statistics like the ones above, but by the affect that their presence has on maintaining order.
“There’s a deterrent factor to the uniformed officers,” Stevens said. “Most people aren’t going to do something dumb right in front of a policeman.”
Another group of officers directs traffic and patrol the parking lot before the game. Some of these men and women who also can number up to 100 begin their work day several hours before kickoff.
The price is high for security during a typical game, but when more popular events occur, the cost is even higher. In December of 2009, when the wildly popular Indinanapolis Colts came to EverBank Field, the staff of officers needed funding of nearly 68,000 dollars. When the Denver Broncos and fan-favorite Tim Tebow come to town on September 12 the needs will probably be the same.